Paper It Fun!

Need ideas for covering plaster walls?

In our previous home, which we are currently using as a rental property, we had a challenging situation. We had finished the basement to include our master bedroom, bathroom and a nursery, and managed to make it very warm and inviting but the stairwell leading down there was a big problem.

The walls were made of cinder block. While we were able to install sheet rock to mask the cinder block in the basement, the stairwell was too narrow to do the same. Besides being very cold (not welcoming) and basement-like, it was actually painful to go up & down. There was no hand railing, so I would often find myself leaning against the wall as I used the steps carrying something heavy…and it would hurt when my arms would brush up against the wall.

So what were our choices?

I suggested carpeting the walls which was an idea we held on to for a while, but then we chose to plaster the walls…to smooth out the texture of the stucco on the cinder block and then add paint…and that’s what we did. Well, that remedy looked rather nice actually until the seasons changed, the house settled and the plaster walls cracked.

Well, here’s the rest of the story as told by my husband:

…I had considered furring out the stairwell and installing paneling but the narrow width wouldn’t really allow that to be a solution. Finally I went with Paper Illusion in the stairwell. The surface is now completely capable of hiding hairline cracks and adds a durability and longevity to the wall finish that nothing else could have accomplished. Any repairs required are just a snap. I used the Fresco Green for a neutral effect that easily ties into adjoining rooms. The tall stairwell is now a focal point thanks to the Paperillusion. I expect to not have to paint the stairwell for years and anticipate only having to spend a few minutes here and there sticking another piece of PI on any damaged areas.

I was so impressed with the performance, I would now use Paper Illusion in any room that I would have painted in the past…

So that’s our personal testament to this product covering cracked plaster. Here’s what Paula had to say concerning her experience…

I have an old house built circa late 1930’s. The walls are plaster with some heavy texture and the previous owner had removed and changed walls/doorways which left lots of bulges.

Well PI has made such a dramatic difference that people don’t realize it is wall paper, they think I sponge painted the walls. I used champagne on 3 walls and bronze on the fourth wall. PI covers up a multitude of sins and construction errors not to mention all the cracks that appeared if you just looked at the wall.

As I was doing my living room I had a contractor come in to replace a ceiling, he just didn’t quite understand the concept of PI and he was asking so many questions about it. 2 years later I had him back to do more ceilings and when he saw the finished living room he could not get over it. He brought some of his employees back to show them. PI really makes plaster walls look great. And you can’t make mistakes, but I have learned a few tricks to it…

If you find yourself with a similar dilemma, please for your sake, consider this product as a viable solution. Test a sample in a small area and see for yourself…you too will be amazed at the results.

Paper Illusions wallpaper truly is the perfect wall covering for cracked plaster!

If you’ve had a personal experience with using PaperIllusion® to cover plaster walls, please share your story below. We want to hear how it worked for you!

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